When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe itís true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes ó hope and belonging, desire and compassion ó with the lightness of a magicianís touch.

Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected and making the extraordinary come true.

suggested retail price (U.S./CAN):
$17.99 /
$23.99

isbn-10/isbn-13:
0763644102 /
9780763644109

on sale date:
09/2009

type/format:
Fiction - Illustrated Middle-grade / Hardback

age range:
8 yrs - 12 yrs

# of pages/size:
208 / 5 1/4" x 7 3/4"

grade range:
Grade 3 - Grade 7

subjects:
Animals; Family; Fantasy & Magic; Social Issues;

authors comments:Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Tale of Despereaux, which was awarded the Newbery Medal and is now an animated feature film from Universal; The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, winner of a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor winner; The Tiger Rising, a National Book Award Finalist; the picture book Great Joy; and six books starring Mercy Watson, including a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book. She lives in Minneapolis.

illustrators comments:Yoko Tanaka is a graduate of the Art Center College in Pasadena, California. She is the illustrator of Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers, and Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker. Yoko Tanaka lives in Los Angeles and Bangkok.